Zinedine Zidane’s young Madrid side managed a superb comeback thanks to an extra time winner by Dani Carvajal to come out victorious against Jorge Samapoli’s Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup.
The first half kicked off with both sides looking equally threatening. Even though Sevilla enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in the first half, they couldn’t create too many chances in the final third to threaten Los Blancos. Sevilla were equally resilient in their defending and it was no surprise that Real only managed to score via a magical 20-yard strike from Marcus Asenio after 20 minutes. Sampaoli’s men would eventually be rewarded for their patience late in the first half as Franco Vazquez finally managed to breach the Real Madrid defence in the 41st minute with a well-placed left-footed volley.
The second half started with renewed vigour from both sides. Real Madrid created chance after chance, but were unable to capitalise on any of their opportunities, shooting high, wide, or straight at the keeper. Sevilla, for the most part, kept absorbing wave after wave of attack launched by Zidane’s men. The game was mostly fought in the middle of the park with midfielders from both sides battling for possession until the 71st minute, when Ramos conceded a debatable penalty after Vietto tripped over him. Konoplyanka stepped up to take the spot kick and made no mistake from 12 yards out. Real Madrid continued attacking Sevilla’s goal. Their patience and pressure would pay off in the 92nd minute, when captain Sergio Ramos would head in the equaliser to send the match into extra time. Dani Carvajal scored from a stunning solo effort thanks to some horrid defending from Sevilla in the second half of extra time to send the Real Madrid fans, bench and social media into delirium.
Zidane praised their opposition in his post match press conference, saying “You have to congratulate Sevilla on their great performance. Sometimes to play a great game it takes two sides and today we saw just that. In the end we won, but Sevilla were very good.” The former French captain hailed his captain Sergio Ramos for his incredible effort in helping turn the game around, saying there were no special instructions for him. “Sergio Ramos is our captain, an important player and he’s always there to earn us the trophy,” he said. “With a player like Sergio, he’s always been the difference. We’ve seen it before. He’s grown as a player, too. In this final he was there just where he needed to be.”
There were some skeptical fans who wondered why young Marcus Asenio was named in the starting XI, but the Spaniard repaid Zidane’s faith in superb fashion by unleashing a thunderbolt from his left foot.
Asenio. Take a bow
— Fablo Freshcobar (@ReggieConway) August 9, 2016
Asenio u are beauty #halaMadrid
— M FurQaN Ali (@bkwasNaKar321) August 9, 2016
Wonderful strike by Asenio. #HalaMadrid
— Michael… (@mogentle) August 9, 2016
Zidane faith in Asenio paying off
— Mark (@M_Sarfo15) August 9, 2016
Said It For A While Now, Marco Asenio Is The Next Big Player To Come Out Of Spain
— Ali Bomaye جمال (@Japow5) August 9, 2016
You can’t stop that Asenio goal #UEFASuperCup
— Jamal. (@JSW280) August 9, 2016
Franco Vazquez later got the equaliser with a well placed left foot volley and his goal was his first for Sevilla, with his first ever shot.
Franco Vazquez. Man. Was scared for a reason. New signings are cracks.
— PHΛROΛHT (@TIWIxTV) August 9, 2016
FRANCO VAZQUEZ!!!!! Goal from out of nowhere, what a finish in the corner
— Yung CD (@CdStyleZ) August 9, 2016
Franco Vazquez washed Casemiro bruh, that turn was crazy ?
— Gastro (@Gastro_o) August 9, 2016
Franco Vazquez is gonna end Casemiro’s career. Already feel bad for him.
— Dill B (@dbaron46) August 9, 2016
Retweeted PremiumSportHD (@PremiumSportHD):#premiumsport
Il gol di @mudo_vazquez con cui il @SevillaFC riprende… https://t.co/j1spLIaJ7h— Gaetano Attrattivo (@Novizio60) August 9, 2016
Franco Vazquez might not be one of the best midfielders in the world, but he definintely is one of the most elegant.
— Michael Yokhin (@Yokhin) August 9, 2016
We all owe Sampaoli after he helped rescue Franco Vázquez from a potential move to West Brom. Him under Pulis would’ve been horrific.
— The Tactics Room (@TheTacticsRoom) August 9, 2016
Konoplyanka — Liverpool’s best player in a parallel universe — hands Sevilla the lead.
— Caoimhín (@Fussball_Kevin) August 9, 2016
Konoplyanka cool as a cucumber on that penalty. #UEFASuperCup
— Oleg (@oleg_s7) August 9, 2016
KONOPLYANKA!!!!!! Hehe, now hold on Sevilla.
Sampoali Magic underway.
— Tom (@TCanton94) August 9, 2016
Konoplyanka such a baller
— Sal (@Kituesque) August 9, 2016
Sergio Ramos the KING .
— Mr 1 clap (@KL_allday) August 9, 2016
Sergio Ramos is World class ?? end off.
— Carlito’s Way (@CarlitoAlves1) August 9, 2016
Sergio Ramos scored a goal in stoppage time. He now can totally awful like he always do and he’s rated as the best centre back in the world
— Mert (@BallCirculation) August 9, 2016
Ramos might just be a better goal poacher than Oliver ?
— Alexander III (@Dantelex) August 9, 2016
How many times does Sergio Ramos save Real Madrid in injury time?!
— MikeP0D (@MikeP0D) August 9, 2016
Sergio Ramos always saving Madrid
— Franco (@JFranco_xD) August 9, 2016
I would rather play Ramos as a striker than Giroud
— Quan (@Kinsrock) August 9, 2016
When they tell you “Ramos can’t defend”, show them these things Paolo Maldini said in 2009 and 2013. pic.twitter.com/3ut2uOcAR5
— Adeshina Peter (@shina_pitta) August 9, 2016
Sergio Ramos loves a cup final goal?⚽️? pic.twitter.com/Erj1uOdZDq
— 101 Great Goals (@101greatgoals) August 9, 2016
Ramos is one good striker
— AF (@AhmadMHF) August 9, 2016
Im sure ramos dreams of scoring in every final and he does, every final. Benzema was dreaming to be on the pitch, nothing more
— _Hamed (@HamedAdil) August 9, 2016
Ramos scored three goals in three finals, a centre back
— SlClLY (@realftmadrid) August 9, 2016
Carvajal’s winner sent the Real Madrid fans into delirium!
I love you too Carvajal
— JERSON ⚽ (@Jerson_2377) August 9, 2016
Dani Carvajal with his best Dani Alves impersonation
— Father Prime (@uk3ba) August 9, 2016
What a run by Carvajal. Outside of the right foot finish. Direct
— CastroMUFC (@CastroUnited) August 9, 2016
defence to attack in 10 seconds carvajal take ten bows. pic.twitter.com/BTKcM3f1BU
— S E Y I. (@MrSeyi_) August 9, 2016
Never seen Cafu score a goal like that especially in a final, fair to say Carvajal has surpassed him
— Olly (@Giroudesque) August 9, 2016
Carvajal. The full back has just scored a golazo. Well if Marcelo isn’t going to, another full back might as well
— UNILAD Football (@UNILADFooty) August 9, 2016